Greenway has one game to overtake Kuechly -- the regular-season finale Sunday, Dec. 30, against the Green Bay Packers.

I talked about that and more Wednesday with Greenway, who minutes earlier received the Korey Stringer Good Guy Award from Twin Cities media members.

BS: How big a deal is it to finish the season as the NFL's leading tackler?

CG: I've been among the top three or four the last couple of years. I think it'd definitely be a goal to finish No. 1. Luke is doing a good job, and the other guys on that list are active, as well. As a linebacker, you take a ton of pride in the ability to get to the football and make tackles and influence the game as much as you can. I'd love to finish first.

BS: On the flip side, does it say your defense is on the field a lot when you have that many opportunities?

CG: I think in some ways it does. You have to look at the snap total. As a player, you go out there and play. You just try to make the plays when they come to you. There are guys on that list that play for defenses in the top three. (Bowman's 49ers defense ranks second overall in the NFL.) It doesn't always say that (your defense is on the field a lot).

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BS: Your entire defense has been making plays the last few weeks. Things weren't going all that great for a while. What changed? What happened?

CG: I think we hit our stride. We saw earlier in the season what we were capable of doing. We played some good football during that three-game stretch where we won some big games (against San Francisco, Detroit and Tennessee in Weeks 3-5). That was indicative of what we wanted to get back to, and it's nice to have that out there to be able to relate to late in the year. I don't know if it's being in a do-or-die situation. We have no other option but to play well and win. The other option is to be done. I'm not sure if that's the reason we're playing better, but something definitely is different.

BS: Did somebody make another speech? (Antoine Winfield rallied the team with a speech about accountability after the Vikings lost to Indianapolis in the second game of the season.)

CG: Jared (Allen) got up in front of the team. That might have been just before we won against Chicago. But it wasn't like this rah-rah thing. It was more about where we were at -- sort of the state of the team address. He said we all had to pull together and win these (final) four; If not, we're not going to make it (into the playoffs).

BS: Is there a quarterback you face that concerns your defense more than (Green Bay's) Aaron Rodgers.

CG: No. I don't think so. He can beat you just by being elusive and remaining on his feet. The biggest thing is him and his receivers work so well together.

BS: It doesn't seem to matter who his receivers are. He still flourishes.

CG: When he's threading the needle, they're catching the ball. He is the engine to that thing, and he makes it go. In some ways, it's plug-and-play, but those guys are great players. It seems like whoever comes in puts up big numbers.

BS: This is a huge game Sunday with the Packers. Both teams have a lot to gain by winning. The Vikings get into the playoffs with a win; the Packers get a first-round bye with a win.

CG: They'd love to beat us. It's a huge game for both teams. This is the reason you play. This is the situation you want to be in. We'd rather be in (the playoffs), but you want to be playing for your right to make the playoffs.

BS: Have you and your teammates talked about the likelihood you'll play the Packers two weeks in a row (if the Vikings make the playoffs)?

CG: Haven't talked about that. You have to have extreme focus on this game and what you can do to get out of here with a win. Obviously, (the Packers) are playing some really good football, too.

BS: I asked you about finishing first in tackles in the league. You're not facing a team that will run the ball 30 times in the game.

CG: You have to be active in other ways. In my instance, I'll try to impact the game as much as I can by getting my hands on the ball and turning the ball over. Or, if I get a chance, hit a receiver and knock the ball out.

BS: Is this the best season of your career?

CG: I think so. It's up there. My goal every year is to be consistent and take my game to the next level.